The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-09
rom tho London Spectator.

From tho London Spectator.
The world, II not governed by force,
greatly breads force; and among the
group OF Princes who rode by the
Queen two will dispose at will OF
100000 soldiers actually in bar.
racks, while two Others not present
will control the movements OF 1,500,-
900 more. That is actual power; and
substantial greatness such as belongs
to the heirs OF Germany, Austria, Rus.
STA, and Italy reflects q kind OF great
ness on the class, or rather clan, to
which they all belong. Moreover, the
Princes who will be potentates sus-
tain the Princes who will not be with
their whole strength. Courts settle
rank in Europe, and the Courts unan-
lmously insist that the defendants OF
royalty, even il dethroned, shall
count everywhere first. Not on
ly will kings not marry, legally at
all events, outside the clan,
but they exert a steady and
effective pressure in favor OF restrict
ing all thrones when vacant to the
clan alone. Nothing can be more abb
surd in theory than for new State
like Belgium or Bulgaria which needs
an organizing chief, u statesman, or q
soldier to choose Prince who may
or may not be capable OF ruling; but
the statemen know well that II they
step outside the clan, European
sympathy will be forfeited" or, in
palmer words, that the sovereigns
who move armies will think they are
dealing with disagreeable upstairs.
Bernadotta only kept his throne ut
the price of turning on his own coun-
try-where he is still regarded as II
traitor-and King Milan, the only
member OF an obscure family with q
recognized crown, will probably lose
it for want OF the determined protec-
ton that, had he been born within
the caste, would have been afforded
him. That protection was not, 1t Is
true, granted to Alexander OF Batten-
berg; but, then, the Battenbergs are
hardly royal, and protection to him
might have precipitated the grayest
of all wars. The moment no wasgone
the Bulgarians examined Europe
with q microscope to find an accept
able Prince; but they knew perfectly
well that their choice was restricted
to those whom the sovereigns recog-
nize as socially their equals" 1t is
that recognition, not birth alone,
which gives the princely caste its
unique and almost inexplicable place
in Europe; and as long rs that recog-
milton continues so long will that
place be maintained. In other words,
the social privilege OF the princely
cast will probably endure as long as
the great monarchies. The greater
kings, beside believing devoutly in the
birth to which they themselves owe
so much, and which, being an indie
structible as well as incommunicable
quality, releases them from the dan
gers OF rivalry-Prince Bismarck for
example, stops short at the steps OF
the throne-ffnd the privileges OF the
clan convenient by enabling them to
prevent all mesalliances, which 1t is
now not only q matter offamily pride
but O. historic tradition to avoid.
They think it also even more expedi-
ent to limit thrones to princes, not
only because we all understand our
equals best, but because they thereby
prevent the rise OF soldiers who might
be unmanageable or too successful.
A warrior king within the Balkans
might end the Eastern question as
Hapsburgs, no less than Romanoffs,
do not wish it ended. Kings have
had their jealousies before and since the
Hapsburgs killed "the Friedlander"
because he was too successful on their
behalf; and the history OF Napoleon
accumulated their distrust OF risen
en..-The Spectator.